Another gorgeous Etsy find

http://www.etsy.com/listing/78445275/organic-cotton-canvas-box-bin-organizer?utm_source=bronto&utm_medium=email&utm_term=Image+-+http%3A%2F%2Fwww.etsy.com%2Flisting%2F78445275%2Forganic-cotton-canvas-box-bin-organizer&utm_content=etsy_finds_121511&utm_campaign=etsy_finds_121511

Beautiful

Browsing through Etsy this morning i came across this beautiful LeMuse shop. (even though it is the middle of summer here - and really hot! - it caught my eye.

http://www.etsy.com/shop/LeMuse?ref=seller_info

Springcleaning

I am so relieved not to be going away for the December holidays this year. I have had time to slow down with dignity this year, instead of the frantic rush to get things done in record time.

The trick, of, course, is not to swap one kind of business for another.

I am forcing myself to slow down and spend time - with family, pets and to just soak up my surroundings.

Christmas is upon us and in this time of Advent, I am approaching "cleaning house" from a different perspective. It has become a time of spiritual cleansing and dusting out of cobwebs, preparing for the celebration of Christ's coming.

To all of you out there - may you have a Christmas filled with blessings, grace and joy.

Pierre and Ryno decorating the tree.

even the rat had to be included.

Living on the coast tends to make one forget about the beautiful valleys and scenery a ston'e trow away.

My husband took this shot a while ago.

Exam packaged and sealed!

The prac exam is over - hard to believe that this group of pupils will never do any art in my classroom again.
I have been down this road no less than 20 times, but it always remains exciting to see the growth in my pupils' work over the three years they spend with me - some even four years if i have them in Grade 9.

Have a look at some of the work on the school FB page.(PSHS)

Paper Play

The exam is continuing without a hitch, and I have completed all my admin. Now it is time to play.
I decorated my paper swap envelope(below) ready to be mailed to Orit Kahana in Israel with this beautiful portrait.

 I use my son's old school exercise books as collage books. I don't cover up all the contants as it sometimes works with the pictures and textures I use.

 I make photocopies of anything that has an interesting pattern or texture. For the cover I have used a photocopy of an embroidered doily which belonged to my late mom-in-law, "Gogo" (Grandmother in Zulu)

I have combined a line drawing by my youngest son, Pierre with a photo of me and my grand-daughter

My maternal grandfather, "Oupa" Japie Venter was a sheep farmer from Dortrecht in the Eastern Cape. He spoke fluent Xhosa and had a tremendous sense of humour, He also told wonderful stories, especially "Jackals en Wolf"

After retirement he and my "Ouma" Engela traveled the country in their VW Beetle, staying with their children and other relatives in turn. Oupa was a keen freshwater fisherman and we ate fish for breakfast every day on holiday at Nature's Valley when they accompanied us there. he caught fish in the Groot River (the Lagoon as we knew it)

"Ouma" did beautiful crochet work and collected small shells which she attached to the edges of doilies and tea-nets. She also travelled with a box of shells collected at the seaside and carefully washed - her personal treasure.

LaWendula: Tables, corners, shelfs, places of creativity

LaWendula: Tables, corners, shelfs, places of creativity: Parts of my home. Hope you enjoy to see what it looks like at LaWendula’s. January 2010 July 2010 August 2010 September 2010 ...

This wonderful woman has been my inspiration for 2011. She arranges the paper swaps which have been the most art fun I've ever had. Look at her blog and feast your eyes!